Research on the Resilience of Ecological Networks from the Perspective of Ecological Security Pattern: A Case Study of Wuhan Metropolitan Area

Abstract Ecological network resilience, the core capacity of ecosystems to maintain functional stability under external disturbances, is of great significance for ensuring regional ecological security and promoting sustainable development. This study takes the Wuhan Metropolitan Area as the research object. Based on multi-temporal data from 2000 to 2020, we innovatively constructed a comprehensive evaluation system of "water resources–soil conservation–ecosystem quality" to identify ecological source areas. Combined with a three-dimensional resistance surface model of "natural environment–human activities–physical barriers," the Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model was applied to extract ecological corridors, forming a "source–corridor" spatial frame-work. The gravity model was used to construct the ecological network and analyze its topological structure. Finally, a robustness model was employed to assess the dynamic changes in network resilience. The key findings include: (1) The number of ecological source areas exhibited a "rise-then-decline" trend, with spatial distribution shifting from fragmented to clustered and the global control of core nodes transitioning from decentralized to highly centralized. (2) Ecological corridors displayed a "dense-south-sparse-north, dense-periphery-sparse-center" spatial pattern. Although the number of corridors decreased, the interaction strength and species migration efficiency significantly improved. (3) The ecological network evolved from "expansion" to "quality enhancement," with significant improvements in network density and clustering coefficients, ultimately forming an efficient and stable structure. Based on these findings, strategic recommendations are proposed to optimize the ecological network and enhance environmental quality in the Wuhan Metropolitan Area's composite ecosystem.